The Latest from Boing Boing

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• Neil Gaiman's library
• Death of popular Indian politico sparks wave of suicides and deaths from "shock"
• Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down
• Mix-CD-of-the-month-club features ripped music from thrifted Singapore vinyl
• Fantastic Russia photography
• Video tour through the history of SFX
• Marvel/Disney hybrid photoshopping contest
• Classic Penguin books designs
• SciFi became SyFy, may soon become SyFry
• Urban Dictionary: Boing-Boinged!
• Firefighters told to cool it on the energy drinks
• Ukulele version of "Walk, Don't Run"
• Delightful crosswalk sign alterations
• Man bites off man's pinky during health care rally
• Wife of Japan's prime minister visited Venus in a space ship
• People of Walmart
• Meat tenderizing ring
• Man stops trial with utterly disgusting behavior
• Possible B.O. ban in Honolulu
• Stroke cures bad vision?
• Recently on Offworld: from girl geek to Godwin's Law, Spelunky goes console, Bonk returns

Neil Gaiman's library Posted: 03 Sep 2009 11:54 PM PDT Alice sez, "I've always wondered what Neil Gaiman's library looked like, but it is more extensive and incredible than I ever imagined." Shelfari adds, "Naturally we'd assumed that someone whose work is filled with references ranging from literary to mythological would have a fairly extensive library but even so, we were a bit unprepared for the scope of what he sent us. In the basement of his house of secrets we find a room that's wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with books (along with a scattering of awards, gargoyles and felines)." Neil Gaiman's Bookshelves (Thanks, Alice!)

Death of popular Indian politico sparks wave of suicides and deaths from "shock" Posted: 03 Sep 2009 11:02 PM PDT The recent helicopter-crash death of Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy (known as YSR), a popular Indian politician who held the office of Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has sparked a round of suicides and deaths from "shock" from distraught fans. The death toll stands at 60 and is apparently rising. In the wake of reports that about 60 persons either committed suicide or died of shock after hearing the news of the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, his son Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday appealed to the people not to resort to such extreme steps. "Due to such acts (suicides) my father's soul will not rest in peace. He had an ever-smiling face and worked for uplift of the poor. They (people) should not resort to such acts," an emotional Jagan said in a statement. According to media reports, eight persons suffered cardiac arrest after hearing the news of Reddy's death in a chopper crash. 60 YSR fans die of shock, son appeals for restraint

Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:55 PM PDT When Senator Al Franken was confronted by an angry mob of teabagger/anti-healthcare-reform types, he calmly, rationally and intelligently talked them down, setting an example for how to conduct reasoned discourse that relies on facts and rationality rather than jingoism. Franken talks down angry mob at State Fair Previously: Man bites off man's pinky during health care rally - Boing Boing Dr Mario agitates for universal health care in Mushroom Kingdom ... Health insurance versus health - Boing Boing HOWTO Pay for America's health insurance - Boing Boing Jon Stewart and Al Franken on Air America - Boing Boing Al Franken documentary - Boing Boing Al Franken on The Daily Show - Boing Boing Dollar a Day to Democrats for as long as Norm Coleman stalls ... Audioclips of Bill O'Reilly reading his bad porno novel - Boing Boing

Mix-CD-of-the-month-club features ripped music from thrifted Singapore vinyl Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:50 PM PDT Etsy seller hamsterguppies has a "Kitschy Record of The Month Club" featuring mixed CDs of tracks ripped from vinyl thrifted in Singapore. Given hamsterguppies' awesome collection of thriftjunk for sale, I'm betting these kick ass. Can't get enough kitsch music in your life? Love receiving mix cds? Sign up to be a member of this elite squad, and you'll receive a CDR of kitschy music (ripped straight from vinyls!) in the mail every month! From girl pop to Bollywood, instrumental to really-bad cover versions, there's no telling what you'll find. Each CDR will consist of songs from a variety of vinyls, so you'll get minimum of 10 songs per CDR. This is a year's subscription, so you'll get 12 kitschy music CDRs in total! Kitschy Record of The Month Club Previously: Retrotech: I want my vinyl back, too - Boing Boing Boing Boing: Record label crackdown on 30+ yr old vinyl bootlegs ... Retro vinyl chic CD blanks - Boing Boing Boing Boing: Vintage Christian sex instruction LPs Boing Boing: Video games hidden in the grooves of LPs Digitising LPs by scanning the grooves - Boing Boing Vintage kids' LPs with built-in animations - Boing Boing Kids superhero Xmas LPs as MP3s - Boing Boing Boing Boing: Mexican remixes of old Jewish LPs

Fantastic Russia photography Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:47 PM PDT Sergey Maximishin's pictures of Russia are incredible, from the kitschy to the haunting to the just plain freaky. Sergey Maximishin Photography (Thanks, Josh!) Previously: Russia's culture minister bans photo of kissing policemen - Boing ... Creepy Russian high-voltage towers - Boing Boing DIY railroad in Russia - Boing Boing Soviet-era punks - Boing Boing Guardians of Russian Art Museums - Boing Boing Children's playgrounds in Russia - Boing Boing Tracks of Russian mystery creature - Boing Boing

Video tour through the history of SFX Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:42 PM PDT This short video is a "5th-grader-friendly" tour through the history of special effects from 1900 to 2008: 1900 - The Enchanted Drawing 1903 - The Great Train Robbery 1923 - The Ten Commandments (Silent) 1927 - Sunrise 1933 - King Kong 1939 - The Wizard of Oz 1940 - The Thief of Bagdad 1954 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 1956 - Forbidden Planet 1963 - Jason and the Argonauts 1964 - Mary Poppins 1977 - Star Wars 1982 - Tron 1985 - Back to the Future 1988 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit 1989 - The Abyss 1991 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day 1992 - The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles 1993 - Jurassic Park 2004 - Spider-Man 2 2005 - King Kong 2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2007 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 2007 - The Golden Compass 2008 - The Spiderwick Chronicles 2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Visual Effects: 100 Years of Inspiration (via Kottke) Previously: Handmade, effect-heavy feature film - Boing Boing Indian Superman video - Boing Boing Hunt for Gollum: gorgeous-looking unauthorized fan-sequel to Lord ...

Marvel/Disney hybrid photoshopping contest Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:34 PM PDT Today on the Worth1000 photoshopping contest: Marvel/Disney Hybrids. Marvel/Disney Hybrids Previously: Disney/Marvel mashups - Boing Boing Disney buying Marvel - Boing Boing

Classic Penguin books designs Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:29 PM PDT Spencer sez, "This guy is a former Penguin Books designer who's posted a couple of collections of images that are downright mouthwatering if, like most designers, you're a fan of Penguin Books' design." Penguin Books (Thanks, Spencer!) Previously: Penguin books is releasing 200 - Boing Boing Classic Penguin covers gallery - Boing Boing Penguin books's podcast - Boing Boing Penguin Great Ideas -- gorgeous editions of classic philosophy ...

SciFi became SyFy, may soon become SyFry Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:56 PM PDT According to this post on science fiction blog io9, the network I still spell out in my mind as "SciFi" -- recently rebranded as "SyFy" -- may be considering cooking shows for future programming. I don't know why they're bothering -- the fan-created show Klingon Food Kritik, above, pretty much pwned the genre. Anyway, snip from io9 post: We heard from a source who's had meetings with Syfy execs recently, in which they said they were trying to get away from the "genre stereotype" of science fiction. And rather than being interested in developing new science fiction programs, the execs allegedly said they were looking at developing a cooking show and a talk show for the newly renamed network TV.com picked up the item, and added even more analysis and snark. SyFy does have reality shows, which include Ghost Hunters and its kin. But no one would argue that Ghost Hunters still falls under the science-fiction umbrella. And I would rather watch hours of Mansquito and Boa vs. Python than a minute of a show where some goon dresses up as a Vulcan and teaches me how to toss a Romulan Salad (snicker). What I wanna know is: your thoughts on what shows they should cook up. Please pitch your series ideas in the comments. I found the Klingon cookin' video in this funny post about science fiction and food at seriouseats.com. (thanks, Todd Lappin)

Urban Dictionary: Boing-Boinged! Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:42 PM PDT Boing Boing has made it into the only dictionary that matters. Yes, thanks to Andrea Mangini, the phrase "Boing-Boinged" is in the Urban Dictionary! Here is the entry in full: Boing-Boinged To have your random cat video, or steampunk mouse armor, or technique for weaponizing bacon posted to BoingBoing.net.. People send all kinds of random and amazing stuff to Boing Boing, and the editors decide which stuff is the best and then post it, along with a trackback to the person who sent the submission. Getting "Boing Boinged" virtually assures you will at least 15 milisceonds of nerdy fame, along with a host of new Twitter followers, new hits on your blog, or whatever. "OMFG! The video of our wedding party doing the Thriller dance just got Boing-Boinged!" Urban Dictionary: Boing-Boinged (Thanks, Chris Arkenberg!)

Firefighters told to cool it on the energy drinks Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:47 PM PDT The cover sheet of the daily "Incident Action Plan" for firefighters battling the Station fire still burning in Los Angeles contains an odd warning: "No energy drinks." Officials say the high amounts of caffeine these beverages contain can be particularly dangerous under these working conditions. Snip from LA Times article: "It's been a concern," said Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service. "When they drink those things, it dehydrates them." Judy said that during a previous fire some years back, a firefighter consumed four cans of Red Bull in one day and went into diabetic shock. Since then, fire officials have warned crews to re-energize in other ways, he said. "Drink water, drink water, drink water," Judy said. He also said that the meals served to firefighters each day are high in calories because firefighters are "going through calories like crazy on the line." In related news -- the Station fire has been determined to have been caused by arson. Two firefighters died fighting the Los Anglees blazes, so the arson investigation will also a be homicide investigation. Previously: Straight Outta Mordor: Notes from the LA Fires The Los Angeles fires Big-ass flying boats full of water save LA from fiery doom ...

Ukulele version of "Walk, Don't Run" Posted: 03 Sep 2009 03:08 PM PDT Here's U900, an amigurumi ukulele duo playing "Walk, Don't Run." (Thanks, Gary!)

Delightful crosswalk sign alterations Posted: 03 Sep 2009 01:28 PM PDT Urban Prankster has photos of some funny crosswalk sign hacks.

Man bites off man's pinky during health care rally Posted: 03 Sep 2009 01:14 PM PDT A man bit off the tip of another guy's finger at a health care reform rally last night in Thousand Oaks, California. From the Washington Post: Reports differ on whether the supporter went to confront the opponents intentionally or was just walking among them while trying to cross the street to the pro-reform rally. Southern California's KTLA-TV, which first reported on the fracas, wrote, "The 65-year-old was apparently aggressive and hit the other man, who then retaliated by biting off his attacker's pinky." The AP reported that the injured man "retrieved the finger and went to a hospital." A hospital spokesperson told the news service that the man, who had Medicare, "lost half the finger, but doctors reattached it and he was sent home the same night." "Man's Fingertip Bitten Off at Health-Care Rally" (Thanks, Bob Pescovitz!)

Wife of Japan's prime minister visited Venus in a space ship Posted: 03 Sep 2009 12:53 PM PDT The wife of Japan's premier-in-waiting, Miyuki Hatoyama, has traveled to Venus. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this may be the first time the wife of a high-ranking politician has visited another planet. "While my body was asleep, I think my soul rode on a triangular-shaped UFO and went to Venus," said Miyuki Hatoyama.

People of Walmart Posted: 03 Sep 2009 12:39 PM PDT Some say that the People of Walmart blog makes fun of misfits. And they're right. But if you ignore the unkind captions, the blog is interesting, like a kind of modern Secret Museum of Mankind. I'm marveling at these photos of human beings in all their diverse splendor. Here's a CNN piece about the site.

Meat tenderizing ring Posted: 03 Sep 2009 12:21 PM PDT Here's a ring for tenderizing a tiny steak.

Man stops trial with utterly disgusting behavior Posted: 03 Sep 2009 11:29 AM PDT James Orr, 66, was on trial in Cincinnati, Ohio yesterday for robbery and kidnapping when he disrupted the hearing with an extreme act of grossness. Orr reportedly asked his attorney if he had any food. When the attorney told him no, Orr apparently put his colostomy bag on the table, squeezed out the contents, and then either ate, or pretended to eat, his own feces. The Sheriff's deputy cuffed him and removed him from the room which the judge then closed for cleaning. Orr's trial will continue next week. From the Cincinnati Enquirer: (Hamilton County prosecutor David) Prem admitted he almost vomited up while watching Orr's antics but suspects they were done with a purpose. "He's a con man. He has over 50 aliases and has convictions in Ohio and New York for thefts and robberies," Prem said. "He's done just about everything a person can do to avoid justice. He feigned (mental) incompetence" leading up to this trial, Prem said. Orr was ordered to trial after court mental health workers deemed him mentally sound and a faker. "I'm completely convinced his whole goal here is to cause as much mayhem as he can," Prem said of Orr. (Orr's attorney Norm) Aubin will have jail workers again check Orr's mental health before continuing the trial Wednesday. "Bizarre act halts court hearing" (Thanks, Tara!)

Possible B.O. ban in Honolulu Posted: 03 Sep 2009 11:17 AM PDT Two Honolulu city council members proposed a bill that would ban certain annoying behavior on buses including bad body odor. If passed, perps could face a $500 fine or six months in jail. From KITV: "It's horrible -- sometimes you have to get up and open up the vents, and it's just obnoxious," said veteran bus driver Thom Robinson. Supporters of the bus behavior bill said it also includes and consolidates a lot of other useful prohibitions already on the books such as forbidding spitting on buses, being drunk on a bus or urinating when you are on a bus or at a bus stop. The city transportation services department supports the bill pending legal review saying much of it is already law. Council Considers BO Ban (Thanks, Koshi!)

Stroke cures bad vision? Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:21 AM PDT Malcolm Darby, 70, wore eyeglasses since he was a young child to compensate, he says, for being "blind as a bat." Last year, the Leicestershire, UK man suffered a stroke and now has perfect vision. Physicians operated to remove the blood clot apparently blocking 80 percent of his carotid artery. When Darby woke up, he noticed that his eyesight was just fine without his spectacles. From The Telegraph: When Dr Darby woke from the anaesthetic he said he thought his vision had become even worse. He said: "I was still a bit fuzzy from the surgery but reached for my glasses and put them on and I couldn't see a thing. "I thought, 'oh no' I'm going to have to spend more money on new glasses. "Then when I took them off I noticed a nurse carrying a newspaper upside down and I could read what it said. It didn't register at first and then suddenly I realised I could see. It is unclear why the stroke or the operation appears to have caused such a dramatic improvement in Mr Darby's sight but doctors believe there may have been pressure on the optic nerve at the back of the eye which was relieved as the clot was cleared. Dr Martin Fotherby, consultant stroke physician at Leicester Stroke Centre, said: "It's pretty unusual. It's a mystery." "Stroke gives 'blind as bat' 70-year-old perfect vision"

Recently on Offworld: from girl geek to Godwin's Law, Spelunky goes console, Bonk returns Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:18 AM PDT Quick -- how many games in the industry's long history can you name with a female lead? In her latest One More Go column, Margaret Robertson says the fact that we "run out of entries for the Great Gaming Leading Lady Pantheon before we run out of fingers is just plain odd" and asks, "Are we really saying that we can't find a viable way to make games that turn 51% of the world's population into heroes a goer?" Elsewhere on Offworld: huge indie news, as Derek Yu's procedurally-generated rogue-like platformer masterpiece Spelunky is announced for Xbox Live Arcade, and LostWinds -- the gorgeously gentle WiiWare debut game from Elite creators Frontier -- prepares for the Winter of the Melodias, its season-shifting sequel. Two classic Hudson franchises are also due for revivals, with hex-strategy game Military Madness/Nectaris announced for the iPhone and prehistoric underdog mascot Bonk comes to PS3/Xbox 360/Wii, and Gaijin Games announces the latest in its retro-futurist rhythm series with the pixel-collecting nothing-expanding beauty of Bit.Trip: Void (above). And our 'one shot's of the day: Rolando artist Mikko Walamies teases his intergalactic next, and the new face of Grand Theft Auto creators Rockstar: tigers with lasers, fire-breathing grizzlies, and stunt-jumpin' polars.

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